McDowell appointed senior vice president

By Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 on 4/11/2014

Scott McDowell, who has led or been part of Lipscomb University’s student life team for 21 years, was recently named senior vice president for student life.

As senior vice president, McDowell is part of the six-member executive leadership team, which provides vision, strategy and direction for the university at an institutional level. In addition to this role, he oversees all the student life functions outside the classroom which include: campus ministry, chapel, student activities, campus security, veteran services, residence life, intercultural development, freshmen orientation, campus recreation, intramurals and the Career Development Center among other responsibilities. Scott also serves as the senior administrative liaison to the parent leadership council to help keep parents informed and engaged in student life.

“Dr. McDowell is passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for spiritual formation as well as a memorable campus life experience for students,” said L. Randolph Lowry, Lipscomb University president.

Under McDowell’s leadership, the scope of student life programs has grown significantly. Highlights include:

Forging intentional connections to Lipscomb parents through a parent program focused on engaging this vital stakeholder group as advisors, ambassadors and philanthropic partners in the university’s mission;

Increasing the vibrancy and participation in the on-campus residential experience by upgrading residential facilities and programming, fostering a relational approach to spiritual development including the recent introduction of Lipscomb’s first formal mentoring program known as The Joshua Project;

Restructuring the Career Development Center to enhance collaboration with academic programs and corporate partners to emphasize internship experiences in the Nashville market while incorporating a strengths-based approach. The collaboration has resulted in a placement rate more than 20 percent above the national average;

Establishing Lipscomb’s veteran services program, that serves more than 200 veterans and has earned national recognition for its quality and service; and

Launching a campus-wide spring Service Day as an outreach to the Nashville community.

“Ask one of our students what makes Lipscomb special and it won’t take long for the theme of relationships to emerge.” McDowell said. “My role is really one of facilitating the relationships that enable our students to flourish: relationships with faculty, staff, other students, and, ultimately, with God. My real passion is helping students to discover their created purpose and to embrace their place in the kingdom. That happens most naturally in the context of relationships.”

McDowell also has an adjunct faculty appointment at Lipscomb University and teaches a variety of undergraduate and graduate classes in theology and leadership. In addition, McDowell has more than 25 years’ preaching experience having served as preaching minister for congregations in Memphis and in Nashville.

The Kittanning, Penn., native has an undergraduate degree in Bible from Freed-Hardeman University, a master’s degree in religion from Lipscomb University and a doctorate in higher education leadership from Azusa Pacific University.